Dry-pipe valve for fire extinguishers



L. M- LEWIS.

DRY PIPE VALVE FOR FIRE EXTINGUISHERS.

APPLlcATloN man MAR, 15, 1920.

1,415,884, Patented May 16, 1922.

6 a 9* zz INVENTOR WITNESS ATTORNEYS valves.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEROY M. LEWIS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENN SYLVANIA.. .ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN lllEElNTSy TO CENTRAL AUTOMATIC SIRINKLER COMIANY,

0F PHILADELPHIA,

PENNSYLVANIA, .A CORPORATION OI. PENNSYLVANIA.

DRY-PIPE VALVE FOR FIRE EXTINGUISHERS.

Application led March 15. 1920.

To all whom t muy conce/Mi Be it known that I, lilium' M. Lewis, a citizen ot the United States, and a resident oif the city of Philadelphia, county oit Philafdelph'ia, 'State o'l `Pennsylvania7 have invented certain new and useiful Improve- `ments in Di"y-Pipe` Valves for Fire Extinadapted for use in automatic sprinkler sys teuls and operative to permit the flow of ettiiigliishined fluid to the automatic sprinlder heads upon the bursting oif one or more of said heads effected bya tire.

Among the objects of my inventioli is to provide a new and useful dry pipe valve oi.

the differential valve type whereby rela-` tively low air pressure in the sprinkler svs tem` will operate upon an air valve of relatively large area and maintain the main water valve of relatively small area `in inoperative closed position against a relatively high water pressure.

Another object of my invention is to provide a new and useful dry pipo valve with a differential air and water valve so constructed that the weight of the air valve will act a counterweight or cmiuterbalance for the Water valve wliereby the` `torce ol4l the flow of water is only partly depended upon Yfor initiating` an opening` of the 4relatively locate and connect `the :vir and water valves whereby the forces active on either oi" said valves may `he transmitted substantially directly to the other of said valves with a minimum loss ot' forces actingr on said parts.

A still further object to locate the Water valve seat at an angleto the main direction of flow of the extinguishing Huid whereby a component part of the lforce of Specification of Letters Patent.

rammed May 1o, 1922.

Serial No. 365,747.

flow of the water through the water valve seat will aid in eifeetingan openingr oi: the air and water valves at the initial operation oi the device without materially aieei` ingr the direct flow oi` the extinguishing `fluid through the device.

A still. further object of my invention is to provide a construction which will prevent water columning. i

Other advantages and objects ot my in 'vention will appear more fully 'from the iliollowing specification. and upon the accompanying drawing.

Referring `to the dr:1.\ving the single figure illustra tes a longitudinal section through a dry pipe valve constructed in accordance with my invention;

ltlei'errinp; more particularly to the draw ing I have shown thereon a dry pipe valve comprisinga main casing;l l provided with an inlet 2 connected. to a supply conduit 3 by means of bolts 4L passingF through the flanges 5 and 6 of the inlet and supply ronduits respectively. The casing; is provided at its opposite end with an outlet 7 secured to a distributing1 conduit 8 by means of bolts 9 passing; tlni'ough the flanges l0 and 11 of the outlet and distributing conduit respectively.

The main chamliier l may he divided into a central intermediate chamber 1.2, an au iliary valve or air chamber lf3 and an air valve or cushion chamber lli, the chamber l?, being' located above the chambers l2 and L14. the latter being); located laterally adjacent to the chamber 12. Between the inlet 2 and the chamber 'l2 is provided a water valve comprising' a. water valve seat rne1nber l5 oil relatively hard metal screwthreaded into the wall 16 `forineul integral with the main casing` l. Against the valve seat member l5 is adapted to seat a water valve 1,7 preferably of circular iorm and provided with an annular channel or groove 18 in. which located a suitable ring 19 of relatively sott material, such as lead, eopper, brass or the like. or a composition alloy, said ring; being sufficiently ductile to seat against the seat 20 of' the valve seat member 15 with the liquid tight seal.

The valve 1 7 m ay be provided with a rearwardly extendingr hemi-spherical lug 21 adapted to tit into a counterpart socketed end 22 of a connecting arm 23 of an air valve 24,

means.

the valve 17 being adapted to rotatably move relative to the end 22 by reason of the spherical coniguration of the lug 21 in the socket of the end 22 whereby upon the valve seating against the ring 15 the valve will be self-adjusting to its seat. The lower end 22 ofthe connecting arm 23 may be provided with a flared portion 25 and the valve 17 may be provided at the rear of said flared portion and at the rear of said valve 17 with a vretainingv ringf26 provided with a central bore with a ydiameter slightly larger than the restricted portion of the end 22 lying be tween the flared portion 25 and the main portion of the' arm 23 whereby relatively loose play will be permitted between the ring 26 and the arm 23. The ring 26 may be rigidly secured to the valve 17 by means of screws 27 or any other suitable securing means.

Between the chambers 12 and 14 is pro vided an opening of relatively large diameter as respects the diameter of the water valve opening. 1n this opening is screw-threaded the air valve ring 28, of relatively hard metal, as in the ease of member 15 described above, in the transverse wall 29 of the casing 1. rlhe air valve 24 is preferably integrally formed with the arm 23 and is provided at the margin thereof with an inclined annular face or bevel 30 against which is placed a sealing package 31 of annular form. This packing may be secured into place by an an nular member 82 suitably secured to the valve 24 by screws 33 or similar attaching The inner face of the annular member 32 is preferably substantially parallel to the face 30 ofthe valve 24 between which faces the packing 32 is tightly clamped. The annular member is also provided with an inclined surface or edge 34 at the periphery thereof so that when the valve 24 is moved towards seating position the face 34 will act as a guiding face to bring the valve into properly closed orccentered position in the event that the valve should he out of alinement with relation to the axis of the valve seat. 1n this `way the closing of the air valve will be self-adjustable to eileet a proper seating thereof, packing 31 being` asv sured a correct sealing contact or seating on the seat 35 of the ring 28.

The air valve is located in the chamber 14and is connected to a supporting arm 36 pivotally connected to the ears 37 cast integralwith the main casing 1 in the lower portion of the 'chamber 14, the arm 86 being adapted'to freely rotate on the pivot pin 38 appropriately supported in said ears. The upper end of the arm 36 may be connected to the valve 24 by means of a shaft 39 suitably supported in rearwardly projecting lugs or ears 40 and suitably keyed by a key 41 to bot-h the members 40 and the upper end of the arm 36 whereby a rigid connection may be made between the valve 24 and the arm 36. 1t is apparent that the arm 36 and the valve 24 may be cast or formed integrally but for practicability of manufacture 1 have found it convenient to connect the arm 36 to the valve 24 by a keyed pivot connection`l as shown. to make the same rigid.

At the upper portion of the chamber 12 is provided a horizontal wall 42 provided with an aperture located with its axis slightly out of alinementwith the axis of the inlet 2, to the right as shown upon the drawing. 1n this wall is suitably threaded the valve scat ring 43, of relatively hard metal as in the case of member 15 described above. provided with a valve seat 44 against which is adapted to seat an auxiliary air valve 45. The air valve 45 may be provided with an annular groove 46 containing an annular packing 47 of suitable yieldable character adapted to seat against the seat 44 with an air and water tight seal. The water valve 45 may be provided with an arm 48 pivotally connected by a pivot pin 49 to the lugs 50 cast intcg al with the wall 42. The valve 45 may be provided with a rearwardly projecting contact piece 51 which. when in open position is adapted to contact and rest against the portion 53 of the main casing 1.

The wall 42, as will be apparent from thc drawing, extends across the main casing 1 over the chamber 14, as well as over the chamber 12, the extension 42 thereof, which extends over the chamber 1,4, being provided with an air opening 54 adapted to establish communication between the air chamber 13 and the air or cushion chamber 14, as will more fully appear hereinafter. 1t will be observed that the top surfaces of the walls 42 and 42 are so curved and shaped that all water included in the air chamber 13 will be adapted to drain off said surfaces through the aperture 54 into the air or cushion chamber 14, the intermediate por tion 42 of the wall 42 being provided with a curved surface 55 between and on cach side of the lugs 50 also aiding in draining water from the chamber 13 to the chamber 14.

At the side of the chamber 18 may be provided a hand-hole opening 56 normally closedv by a cover 57 Secured in place by bolts 58, this hand-hole opening permitting` access to the air chamber 13 whereby the auxiliary air valve and the valve seat thereof may be cleaned and the auxiliary air valve manually closed into the position shown upon the drawing, after the system has operated. The main casing may also be provided with a hand-hole giving access into the chamber 14 and normally closed by the plate 59 suitably secured to the casing by means of bolts 60 and nuts 61.

The inlet 2 may be provided with a threaded connection 62 leading to a water i Ell used 'for enclosing the dry pipe valve.

Luismi' test valve or gauge (not shown) which may beopened at any time desired to determine Whether or not the inlet 2 lillcd with water. connection (lil may also be provided leadings toa sprinkler head which ir: of utility to protect the housing usiurlly ln the chamber 12, ata low point thereoi", may be provided an aperture (il leadinga to the usual :lorm of ball drip connection or valve (not shown) the same operating` in its usual manner 4to permit the out-flow` oli small leakage that might possibly occur tl'irough the valves into the chan'lloei.' l2 and pre-- venting accumulation oi iva ter in said cham-` ber but which will close `when full pressure el Water is present in the chamber 12. In the upper part of the chamber 12 may also be provided an aperture leading to a connection communicating with an alarm or alarm controlling device and operative to supply water to the alarm or the controllinedevice When the chamber 12 is filled 'with water after the main valve is opened. llt the lower endof the chamber 114- may be connected, as with screw threads, a system drain connection 6G in which may be provided an ordinary hand valve (not shown). This drain valve is normally closed and is only oi' utility for draiiiiiip4 water from the system after the dry pipe valve has operatedandalfter the lire has been extinguished as to drain all ol thewvater that might possibly remain in the distributing conduits and pipes, the flow oteuehivater occurring through the chain-- ber 13, apen-ture 547 chamber 1-l and finally into connection 66. In the` chamber 13 is preferably provided an aperture 67 leedingl` to a connection communieating,1 with au air supply aud also to a prirniurr source. Uien the valves are iii closed pos yieu and the system is to be set ready for operation, priming Water may lirst be supplied through the opening" 67 into the chambers 'i3 and lll so as to water seal the valves 24: and 4:5, the water leel being substantially at the level `68 indicated upon the drawing, Air under compression may then be supplied through the aperture 67` 'lfroiu a suitable air supply source (not ehownlto lill the distrilultingg' system with. conuirressed air which usually is a]' noxi1nately twenty live pounds per square inch. The water sup` ply may then be opened into the conduit Il and the inlet 2 to the valve 17, the connec tion (l2 beine; open to permit escupe olf air until the inlet coruluit is filled, whereupon the connection (32 .may be closerh The apparatus constructed to withstand at least one hundred and ifty pounds pressure per squarevilieh olf wateren the inlet side ci? the water valve although any pressure dei sir-able may be used.

The valve 241, it will be observed, is located i torvauls the water located in au if iu order that the air be located as clot-zelf 't whereliiy a strong ai be made between. the 'i valve hy means olf' the i interiore n'iaterially iv' h line 'Herv olf the e lnguish inlet 2 to the ou t t 'i' li l be obesi that the arxiv` oi the outlet located sonicivhat to the right ot the is olf the inlet l as shown. upon the thawing', whereliiy, as the liquid is mused to .issue througlfi the Water valve port the stream will be slightly deille to the ri and will their curve upwai l ircetly through the auxiliary valve port and ll'liroiu the outlet i1, the depeneingr portion 4t2" ol.' c, ie ivall d2 being so located that the niain ilmv ol'f the Water 7ivi il be through the auxiliary valve port and will aid in in 'eventin vautial ihm' ol vater through the p( Y, side ol the :,uviliary lve thus preventing' Athe latter troni :livin bach; ii `o closed sistantially 180C from horizontal to horiiiontal position and it is vvell lrnovvn that when a valve ol? th' ype has reached. a position less than 300 with. the horizontal, it is practically impossible ior the iluid stream o the type parsing; through a device oi the 1rind heim in disclosed to liilt said valve and to carry it bach: "to its seat.

The device when in static position has the parts in. the position as shoufn upon the drai'ving; whereby air ol relatively loiv pressure operates against the iluid in 'the chamber lflto maintain the air valve lfl; seated, the 'total thrust ug'ainf-:t lthe air valve li-le being;r at least equal to and. usually le than the total thrust el the water against the smaller viator valve 1T altl'ioiugh the Water ijn'essure intern-sity may he unich greater than that el the aux, [he pressure in the chamber' 12 being; that el? the atmosphere.

lu operatiena `when a sprinkler head is caused to open upon the occurrence ol a lire, the air pi zure in the distributinggl conduite und pipi,.-` vv ill be rajfiidly reduced to a point at which il, thrust or total pref-sure acting against the l, valve 2l; will be reduced to less than tha l1 apra inst the water valve on the water side thereol'- The rrater iliei'elfore7 immediately 'rvill beerune eilieel'ive to 'torce the u ter valve l'i' into open position, carryiulgL with it 'the air valve 2li, about the pivot fili, to 'the :rightly as shown on the drawing, into the chamber lfl.. lues chamber l-fl; is filled with Water the inward rush et the 'water through the water valve bert against the valve 1l" will be counteracted by the cushioningl elleet of the Water Fill lll() llt i uch as the in the chamber 14;, the latter seeking its escape through the opening provided between the valve 24 and its seat 3a thereby offering resistance to a sudden opening oi the valves. This is desirable in order to prevent rebound such as frequently occurs in dry pipe valves previously in use, lt is known 'that if a valve of this type be opened suddenly it may strike against the parts et the casing with such a torce as to rebound and to again close the valve, 'oftentimes producing a delay of the operation of the system as well as injuring the device. :in my device, by providing a water cushion beneath the air valve the torce of the extinguishing 'Huid issuing `'from the inlet 2 will be counteracted or almost counterbalanced so that by the time that the air valve has moved to the right, as shown upon the drawing, past the vertical, the water valve shall have moved from the port thereof suiticiently to permit the main flow oi the extinguishing fluid to be directed upwardly through the auxiliary air valve port to the outlet 7, a small component ot the torce of that stream being used, merely,

in initiating the opening of the diii'erential valve. kThe air valve, as it moves by the `vertical position to the right, as shown upon the drawing, will, ot its own weight, tend te continue to move to open position and carry with it the water valve, but in closed position the valve is slightly inclined from the vertical toward thewater valve so that its weight has a tendency to aid the closing action ot the water valve and it is only after it has moved past the vertical to the right, that its weight aids in moving the water valve into open position.

It the air valve due to corrosion should move 'out of alinement the tapered surtace 34 ot the ringv 32 will operate against the inner edge ot the ring 28 to bring the air valve into properly alined or centered position as the air valve is moved to closed position. The water valve likewise, due to being prof vided with a ball-and-socket connection 2l and 25 also is adapted to move into self adjusting position in the event that the water valve does not initially seat squarely or evenly.

The hand-hole provided in the chamber 14 is of utility for access to clean the water and air valves and to replace the same into closed position prior to re-establishing the static condition of the system for its next operation.

TWhile I have herein described and illustrated upon the accompanyingl drawing one embodiment of my invention it is to be understood that the same is not to be considered limited to the particular details described and shown but vthat the same comprehends other forms and arrangements of parts as do not depart Yfrom the spirit oi the invention and the scope oit the appended claims,

li'aving thus describen my invention what i claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent ot the United C-tates is:

l. ln an automatic dry pipe valve ifor lire eriinguishing` systems, the combination ot a casing provided with an inlet, an outlet, a central chamber and an air chamber all in substantial alignment. cushion chamber located adjacent said central chamber and provided with a small opening` communicating with said air chamber and a. large openingl communicatingwith said central chamber the surface oi the bottom of the air chamber being` curved in the direction ot said sirail opening` to drain the air chamber into said cushion chamber, an inclined water valve in said central chamber adapted to close said inlet, an air valve et relatively large arca in said cushion chamber and adaijited to close the opening between said central and cushion chambers, said air valve having` an inclined surface adapted to guide the valve to proper seating` position on its seat, an arm rigid with said air valve `for connecting saidr water and air valvesl whereby said valves move in unison, means located in said cushion chamber tor pivotally mounting said air valve in said chamber, said last mentioned means and said air valve beingr rigidly secured together, a valve seat for sai d air valve sinroundinethe openingr between said central and said cushion chambers said seat having` its top inclined trom the vertical toward said water valve, and an auxiliary air valve between said central and said air chambers.

2. ln an automatic dry pipe valve lor fire extinguishing systems, the combination o'l a casingprovided with an inlet. an outlet and a cushion chamber, a, differential valve having the valves thereof` in acute angular disposition, a short connecting arm rigid with one oi said valves and universally connected to the other ot said valves whereby the latter is seltadjustable to its seat, the smaller valve of said differential valve adapted to control the flow ot extinguishing fluid through said casing and the larger valve ot said differential valve located out ot the path ot the fluid passage between said inlet and said outlet, an arm pivotally mounted in said cushion chamb-f and rigidly secured to said larger valve. means to supply air pressure to said larger valve and means for cushioning the opening' movement et said differential valve to prevent rebound thereof.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 13th, day of March, 1920.

LEROY M, LEWIS. 

